Why wont America make an effort to reduce its global emissions before it's too late and we are all dead?

Question

I accept many other countries produce pollution but america is by far the greatest polluter in the 1st world. With climate change the major problem of this century is it not time for Americans to maybe not deive a stupidly large vehicle that consumes silly fuel. I am not an environmentalist weirod just have common sense. A hummer for one person is stupid

sorry about the spelling

brian u r a dick. i hope acid rain falls on your house from your stupid SUV

Answer 1

Because the American political system is one of the most bureaucratic in the western world, the processes involved to make change are almost overwhelming.

musonic do you really think that India and China are the big problems? India has taken more steps towards emission reduction then America has. Also both countries have massive populations compared to the US, yet America is still the worlds number one polluter. Not to mention that the only reason that India and China have not signed the Kyoto Treaty, is because they will only do so, once America has signed. And fair enough, it has far less people and should therefore make the first step. Oh and someone else here was talking about the fact that America is huge and one needs to travel far and that's why they have huge cars, well seeing a single individual in a car that could provided enough space for an entire extended family, makes me puke. Oh and global warming can kill us over time, or at least guarantee this planet will not harbor life one day, which sucks. Also its not an infant science, its common sense, you have been listening to too many of your redneck presidents speeches me thinks.

Answer 2

This is a gross generalization, as a species we have only just begun to understand the world we live in. In that short period of time a great deal has been accomplished. What we have to understand is that nothing happens overnight. America is not an old country its still relatively young our natural resources and land are still in good supply. America is huge and built around transportation based on the Car. We do not have a great public transportation infrastructure, that will take Billions of dollars and many many years to accomplish.

As for some of the folks that answered this question saying that americans are "stupid" and have a "bad Government". I respond with its easy to kick a guy when he is down, kick away just remember that the next time the world asks for help, look to see who the largest contributor to world aid is...

Like everyother country we made a wrong turn, we were lied too by our own peole after getting kicked in the nuts by our enemies and our own people used that to sell us on a policy that we would never have bought into. We will excise our cancer and move on.

Answer 3

Now just calm down dear!

You seem to be getting various issues confused.

Global warming is not going to kill us, but there is evidence that it could have costly and bad long-term effects, and that it may be accelerating. Even assuming that this infant science is absolutely correct, the effects are not going to be felt for perhaps a century or more.

As regards air-pollution, America has quite stringent laws on air quality, whether that be from power-stations or motor-vehicles. Indeed, America is where it all started, with the anti-pollution laws in California, if I recall correctly.

The BIG problems start when countries like China and India start to belch out enormous amounts of pollutants and green-house gases, as they are starting to do, and where regulations are either not in place, or are ignored on a grand scale.

You can blame THAT on globalisation and the throw-away consumerism of to-day, which may or may not have American financial interests driving it more than any other country.

My objection to things like SUV's and "Hummers," is the fact that they waste precious resources at an alarming rate, which is probably a greater immediate threat than either global warming or air-pollution.

Answer 4

America is a global leader in reducing emissions. But America will not pay billions of dollars to other countries just because those the progress already made and being made is not enough in their opinion.

Everybody makes a big deal about Kyoto, but the countries that have ratified Kyoto are definitely going to miss their targets and have to pay penalties. Except for countries which have no targets they must meet, such as China. Those countries will just collect money and continue increasing emissions. Kyoto is just a political money grab.

The Hummer for one person will go away when oil prices get high enough, which will probably happen pretty soon. With the rapid rise in SUV sales in China, the world price of oil now has strong upward pressure.

Answer 5

it incredibly is all alarmist crap and continually has been. lower back interior the 60's in grade college became as quickly as I first heard approximately this worldwide warming stuff. (specific before then). on the time the concentration became on the "inhabitants explosion". We have been advised that by utilising the year 2000 maximum of long island city may well be under water from the turning out to be oceans. The oceans have been meant to upward push from all of the glaciers dropping Ice burgs into the sea. purely like putting too many ice cubes in a tumbler of water we would flood the earth. Then interior the previous due 70's into the 80's it became the hollow interior the ozone. This became going to break all flora with too lots extremely-violet radiation. nicely wager what I surely have been going to the sea in view that i became a toddler and the water at intense tide isn't any greater now than it became then.

Answer 6

We do more to control pollution than any country in the world.the EPA has cost alot of jobs in this country. but the rest of the world don't mind taking the jobs and puffing out the smoke.we used to be the greatest steel producer in the world.now it's done overseas and they're doing the polluting.Idiots like you will be the downfall of this country.

Answer 7

Because, contrary to public belief, people in America are not free to do as they please to better the world. The copratocracy makes sure we behave in their best interests. Toyota and Honda, who are not American companies, have actually done what Americans want - more fuel effiency in their vehicles, and have created hybrids, which have waiting lists to buy one. American companies are slow to adopt that technology and apply it to their vehicles, instead, preferring to wait for hydrogen cells to become avaliable.

Things will hopefully change for the better when Bush is out of office in January 2009, and we'll elect someone more consciencious of the environment and the effects of larger vehicles that spew more garbage into the air. Hopefully then will we get someone to help advanmce alternate means of fuel that our oil-loving president won't touch with a 10-foot stick.

I do agree that about Hummers, but do want to expand that to say that they are stupid, regardless of what you use them for. Same with most SUV's and large pickup trucks that people drive just because they are large and don't haul anything with them. I drive a Dodge Caravan that I will drive only until I can get something that is more fuel efficient and fits my life. But I have used it to haul sporting equipment and stuff for work, as well as to move a few times, so it hasn't toally been just me driving something larger than I need, but I do see it's too large for my needs and will fix that when it is feasible. But a Caravan is nowhere near as bad as a Hummer or an SUV.

One problem is there are a lot of areas where a vehicle is a necessity. Public transprtation doesn't usually run in rural or sparsely populated areas, and isn't the greatest in a lot of metropolitan areas. Reliable public transportation, with busses and trains that are hybrids and electric and some that use electro-magnets are a good start, but the effort needs to be expanded.

But you only address the First World. Mexico also accounts for pollution in the United States, as their lack of clean air laws allows them to spew emissions and they cross the border, and that stuff is part of what gets caught in the Inland Empire of Southern California. Everyone needs to work together to get the entire world to reduce emissions, not just one country.

And Brian - if a low vehicle gets under your SUV, it can topple you very easily. So much for safe. But if everyone had smaller vehicles, and would drive properly, there would be no need for your massive gas-guzzling piece of garbage SUV.

BTW - Not all Americans believe what Bush does by telling other countries to "stick it where the sun don't shine" is the right thing to do. In fact, Americans are only noticed for the worst 1%, not the average person. Yet the world spouts off like the misconceptions of Americans are the Bible.

Answer 8

Once is already inevitable, why stop?
Keep with profit and create better industries before the colapse and just then, manage global colapse. Its a problem to the next president....
Its part of ocidental way to think. Short term and centred of small 5cm of area.

Answer 9

it is my understanding that our pollution levels are falling. one must look at the curve of the US and China. if each country continues as they are, where will pollution levels be in 20 years comparing US and China?

Answer 10

America has actually changed thier views and policies regarding Global warming. Watch the news and read the papers. They're quite informative you know.